We had bottle #540 of the 950 made. This Belgian-style Golden Ale was brewed with edible flowers (yarrow, lavender, chamomile, rose buds, elderflowers, calendula, nasturtium and dianthus) and bottle conditioned in February 2013. In our books, this is less of a “Belgian” ale and more of a Gruit; a damn fine and unique one at that.

Straight pour from a 1L swing-top growler filled at the Syracuse Real Food Co-op less than an hour before to my nice Tired Hands oversized wine glass; sixtel was tapped this morning, I believe. A BPA brewed with edible flowers, eh?

Appearance (4.5): What a lovely pour: a good three fingers of rocky, mixed fat and small bubbles composing a custard-colored foam rises off the pour, dying down to a patchy film on the surface of the beer, leaving thin patches of suds, arcs, and splotchy collars of lace around the glass early on, and a solid sheet on the far side later on. The body is a rich, auburn-amber color with a chill haze.

Smell (4.25): Lavender and chamomile are the most obvious notes right off the bat, but there’s also an interesting, almost watery-smelling vegetable note in there, like fresh cucumber—not a gross “vegetable” scent whatsoever, and in fact it’s lovely and refreshing.

Taste (3.5): Chamomile is immediately evident, along with a very light, peppery spiciness that hangs out in back; the malt comes off with a rich, spicy, bready, almost rye-like character that’s very understated (rich, but veeery restrained), along with a molasses sweetness underpinning the whole affair. There’s also a (not surprisingly) unidentified floral note that goes through the whole thing, that’s slightly lemony and tastes slightly like oregano. Very interesting.

Mouthfeel (4.25): Quite nice, with a restrained carbonation that tingles very lightly and dissipates quietly and a medium-weight body that finishes juuust on the dry side. Very quaffable, and does not drink like 6+% ABV—more like in the 4% range.

Overall (3.75): This is a pretty good beer, essentially a decent Belgian Amber with strong floral characteristics, though the chamomile seems to come off a bit stronger than I’d like. Definitely enjoyed drinking it and I appreciate the experiment, but it’s not quite as magical as I admit I was hoping. Worth a shot, if you see it somewhere and like Belgian Ambers.

Bottle 780 of 950. Poured into a snifter, the beer is a vibrant, slightly hazed, deep caramel-copper coloring with a thin, sparse layer of surface film and a very rapid, steady flow of carbonation bubbling. Lots of pressure when the cork was popped, also. Aromas of evergreen, mint, rose, and hyacinth. More layers on the nose as you drink, but I'm not that well versed in the world of flower and fauna. Very floral is the only way to sum it all up. Flavors are well blended, but almost muting of each other. There is a deep honey sweet backbone, with some peppery and oregano notes, and highlights of rose, jasmine, and lavender. Drinking this reminds me of all of the characteristics you are inundated with when you step into a greenhouse at a flower shop. It's a very layered blast to your taste and smell, and it works. There are some funky notes throughout, reminiscent of a Belgian yeast strain, with cherry and fig sweetness sprinkled throughout, as well. Very bold flavors on a body that starts sharp on the tongue, but smooths out across the palate. Peppery and roasty aftertaste, with a blast of chai at the very end. A fairly quick, clean finish. Very interesting beer. Tasty and unique.